Shanks' six-month results show pre-tax profit fall
Its pre-tax profits for the six month period ending September 2009 was £17.4 million compared to £22.9 million for the same period in 2008, and, Tom Drury, chief executive of Shanks Group, said that there were “no significant signs of economic recovery” in the markets as a whole. The firm, which is based in Milton Keynes, pointed to positives in the figures such as the fact that it had achieved close on its £720 million waste PPP deal with Cumbria county council and was making headway on planned facilities in the UK, Canada, Netherlands and Belgium.
Mr Drury said: “In what has continued to be challenging economic conditions, we have made good progress in the first half of the year on the delivery of the key priorities set out at the time of our Rights Issue. We have materially strengthened the balance sheet, are making significant progress in reducing costs, improving free cash flow and investing in line with our growth plans.”
Windsor and Maidenhead residents take to RecycleBank
The American company reported that 55% of the 3,750 households eligible for the points-based recycling system had opted to take up the initiative since the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead launched the scheme at the beginning of September following a three-month trial using green waste collections (see letsrecycle.com story). The scheme sees residents receive vouchers for local and national retailers based on the amount of dry recyclables they place in 240 litre blue bins.
Councillor Liam Maxwell, council lead member for sustainability, said: “The scheme in the Royal Borough has shown that rewards engage participants and the more residents recycle the more benefits they will get. This is a scheme that can and will encourage more residents to recycle across the UK, as we have proven here within just a few weeks.”
Workington scrap metal merchant fined £16,000
Workington Magistrates' Court has handed an illegal scrap metal merchant a £16,000 fine and ordered him to pay costs of £15,000 for offences relating to the illegal keeping of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs).
In a case brought by the Environment Agency, Workington resident James Lancaster pleaded guilty to four charges connected with the illegal keeping of ELVs and other scrap metal on four sites at Lowther Road and Lawrence Street, Workington. Mr Lancaster was found to have collected and kept an estimated 200 vehicles and other scrap metal spread over four unlicensed sites, with the potential for hazardous waste to leak from the vehicles and cause damage to the local environment. The court found that, by running unlicensed sites, Mr Lancaster was also undercutting legitimate businesses in the area and gaining an unfair competitive advantage.
Helen Love, environment officer at the Agency, said, “The Environment Agency is committed to ensuring that all vehicle dismantlers operate in a way which protects the environment, as well as ensuring that there is a level playing field for all commercial companies. Mr Lancaster knew about the waste permitting requirements, but continued to operate illegally at these four locations.”
Premier Waste appoints commercial operations manager
Mr Hawkes has over 21 years experience in the waste industry, including waste regulation, operational and commercial roles. The internal appointment sees Mr Hawkes take over the new position having led the team working within Premier Waste's recycling treatment and disposal division, and he will now be responsible for all commercial aspects of the division such as improving existing business and securing new commercial contracts.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Hawkes said: “I am really excited about the role. It is a great opportunity to work with existing clients, but also to help further grow the business. There are some very significant local authority opportunities in the region, which I am keen to develop.”
Midlands man creates biomass fuel from waste leaves
A Birmingham resident has invented a process to create a biomass fuel from waste leaves collected for disposal by local authorities in the West Midlands.
Peter Morrison, who is co-director of the company BioFuels International, developed the Leaf Log system to turn waste leaves stockpiled by Birmingham, Walsall and Sandwell councils into an alternative for coal and wood. The firm also has agreements with Birmingham's two universities, Bournville College and Sutton Park, a national nature reserve and one of the largest urban parks in Europe to sell the Leaf Log process.
Mr Morrison said: “It's a win-win situation because we can make use of their waste while saving them the time and expense of disposing of the leaves in landfill sites. Local authorities have clear targets for reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill and Birmingham city council, Walsall and Sandwell metropolitan borough councils have been happy to work in partnership with us.”
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